Almost every day I get questions about our IKEA sofas in the family room, so today I’m going to give you an honest review of these sofas three years after purchasing them.
When we finished the renovation of the family room three years ago, I knew that I wanted two sofas with slipcovers so that I could remove them for washing.
I wanted the look of the Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs slipcovered sofas, but without the price tag.
In researching slipcovered sofas, I kept coming across the IKEA Ektorp sofa. At less than $500, I just couldn’t believe that they were very good quality, but I kept reading positive reviews about them.
When a new IKEA store opened less than 3 hours away, hubby and I decided to go check out the sofas in person, and I was very impressed with the look and feel. So we decided to take a chance, and we purchased the sofa and loveseat with the Vittaryd White slipcovers.
Both sofas came in large boxes, and they were easy to unpack with very minimal assembly. I have to tell you that hubby was definitely a bit skeptical…..he really believed that we had wasted money on buying them, and that they would not hold up.
It’s now three years later and I can honestly say that I am obsessed with these sofas. Hubby and I both love them, and today, three years later, they still look like new.
Now, before you comment that “you can’t have those with kids” or “you must not live in that room”…..we absolutely live in the family room and the sofas get lots of wear. We eat on them, drink our coffee and have red wine while sitting on them, we nap on them, and Miss RubyLou sits, sleeps, and lays on them each and every day. We have children in and out, and my big granddog (95 lbs) thinks the loveseat is hers. Do they get dirty? Of course they do! But you can literally take off the slipcovers and wash them when needed.
I love that the slipcovers can be washed and bleached, so I don’t worry about them getting soiled by spills and stains. They are very easy to remove and put back on. Brown sofas get dirty…..the difference is that I can wash mine!
Also, the slipcovers come in different colors, as well as dark colors so it’s easy to change the look. I have my eye on the beige slipcovers for a subtle change.
The Ektorp sofa might not work for everyone’s style, but I think they would work for most. You can’t beat the price point or the ease in care.
The pros of the IKEA Ektorp Sofa:
~The price….it just can’t be beat!
~Washable Slipcovers…..they are so easy to keep clean. You can wash the entire slipcover, or individual cushion covers if needed. I usually wash the entire slipcover on both sofas every 2-3 months.
~Replacement Slipcovers…..new slipcovers are very inexpensive, they fit like a glove, and come in different colors so it’s easy to change the look of your room with minimal expense.
~Comfort…..Hubby and I find these sofas to very comfortable. They are nice and firm and after three years, they haven’t lost their shape at all. We both tend to sit in the exact same spot and we haven’t noticed any misshapen cushions at all.
~Quality…..I think the quality is great! The slipcovers are still like new, and the cushions are still firm after three years.
~Getting the Pottery Barn/Ballard Designs look for a whole lot less.
The cons of the IKEA Ektorp sofa:
~Location….not everyone lives close to an IKEA store, but they do ship directly to your door! You will have to pay for shipping, and that might not work for everyone. However, even with shipping, they are less than the Pottery Barn/Ballard Designs version.
~Wrinkles….Sometimes, after washing, the slipcovers will have wrinkles. But I have learned to take them out of the dryer while still slightly damp and put them back on the sofa. This makes it easier to get the slipcover back on, as well as stretches it just enough to remove most of the wrinkles.
I can honestly say that after three years, I have zero regrets about buying these sofas. And, if for some reason, they were destroyed tomorrow, I would purchase them again. They have held up well for our lifestyle and with our pets!
Cheers, Cindy
